Delivery of tidal volume from four anaesthesia ventilators during volume-controlled ventilation: a bench study

Background Tidal volume (VT) must be accurately delivered by anaesthesia ventilators in the volume-controlled ventilation mode in order for lung protective ventilation to be effective. However, the impact of fresh gas flow (FGF) and lung mechanics on delivery of VT by the newest anaesthesia ventilators has not been reported. Methods We measured delivered VT (VTI) from four anaesthesia ventilators (Aisys™, Flow-i™, Primus™, and Zeus™) on a pneumatic test lung set with three combinations of lung compliance (C, ml cm H2O−1) and resistance (R, cm H2O litre−1 s−2): C60R5, C30R5, C60R20. For each CR, three FGF rates (0.5, 3, 10 litre min−1) were investigated at three set VTs (300, 500, 800 ml) and two values of PEEP (0 and 10 cm H2O). The volume error = [(VTI −VTset)/VTset] ×100 was computed in body temperature and pressure-saturated conditions and compared using analysis of variance. Results For each CR and each set VT, the absolute value of the volume error significantly declined from Aisys™ to Flow-i™, Zeus™, and Primus™. For C60R5, these values were 12.5% for Aisys™, 5% for Flow-i™ and Zeus™, and 0% for Primus™. With an increase in FGF, absolute values of the volume error increased only for Aisys™ and Zeus™. However, in C30R5, the volume error was minimal at mid-FGF for Aisys™. The results were similar at PEEP 10 cm H2O. Conclusions Under experimental conditions, the volume error differed significantly between the four new anaesthesia ventilators tested and was influenced by FGF, although this effect may not be clinically relevant.